Best Assault Rifle loadouts in Black Ops 6 Season 2

Assault rifles have always had a place in the Call of Duty meta, and Black Ops 6 is no exception, where they are among the most versatile and powerful guns in the game.

However, they aren’t all built equally, with some dominating multiplayer and others being second-rate options you’ll want to avoid. Figuring out which is which can be tricky, especially with the buffs and nerfs in Season 2 shaking up the meta yet again. This update saw a new assault rifle added and others adjusted, leaving you with the task of figuring out what’s worth using.

To make sure you use the right loadouts, we’ve broken down the best assault rifles in Black Ops 6, including attachments and a breakdown of where each of them ranks.

Best Assault Rifle loadouts

1. Krig C

Dexerto

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Compensator
• Barrel: Long Barrel
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip

The Krig C is an incredible assault rifle that offers the perfect balance of accuracy, range, and damage. Equally, it has above-average hipfire accuracy and a recoil pattern that’s relatively easy to control, making it a strong all-around option with very few weaknesses. As such, it is currently the best AR in Black Ops 6, with the loadout above capable of dominating any lobby.

Previously, you could easily run this with a Suppressor due to its low recoil, but a nerf back in Season 1 Reloaded means you’ll want to use a Compensator now instead. Otherwise, the recommended Krig C build hasn’t changed much and remains a top-tier weapon that is as accessible as it is powerful.

2. XM4

Dexerto

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Suppressor
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip
• Stock: Buffer Weight Stock

The XM4 is a jack-of-all-trades assault rifle that anyone can dominate with. It has low recoil, high accuracy, and solid damage, making it one of the best options at both medium and long range. However, it can also hold its own up close too thanks to its impressive fast fire rate of 800 RPM, which is one of the highest of any AR in Black Ops 6.

This loadout capitalizes on that accuracy by maximizing recoil control. This particular build makes the XM4 incredibly easy to use, with the Buffer Weight Stock being one of just two attachments to improve both horizonal and vertical recoil. The only downside to the XM4 is that its average TTK can leave it outgunned by better guns like the Krig C.

3. Model L

Dexerto

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Compensator
• Underbarrel: Ranger Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip
• Fire Mods: Recoil Springs

If accuracy is what you prioritize over everything else, the Model L is the gun for you. It’s tough to justify over the XM4, but there is a certain appeal to a gun that is this easy to use. In many ways, it’s reminiscent of the MCW from last year’s game, and that was one of the most popular weapons. The Model L isn’t quite as good, but it feels similar, and a lot of people will enjoy using it for that reason.

Our loadout makes the Model L have almost entirely vertical recoil, so it becomes very easy to control. Even at long range, you shouldn’t miss shots, with the Vertical Foregrip and Recoil Springs making it laser accurate. Another bonus of using this assault rifle is that it’s so accurate that you don’t need a muzzle to further reduce recoil, so you’re free to use a Suppressor, keeping you hidden from the other team.

4. Cypher 091

Dexerto

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Suppressor
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip
• Fire Mods: Recoil Springs

New to Season 2, the Cypher 091 is another high accuracy, low damage assault rifle comparable to the Model L. This makes it a good option if you want an effective weapon that’s easy to use and especially powerful on larger maps like Extraction and Hacienda. With the Vertical Foregrip and Recoil Springs equipped, it has an almost entirely vertical recoil pattern, making it easy to control.

Unfortunately, it is objectively worse than the Model L, having both a slower TTK and fire rate. Due to this, there’s not really much point using this newcomer over its predecessor. Regardless, it’s by no means a bad weapon, and you can do a lot worse than running a Cypher 091 on your next loadout.

5. Goblin Mk2

Dexerto

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Compensator
• Barrel: Long Barrel
• Rear Grip: Ergonomic Grip
• Fire Mods: Rapid Fire

The Goblin Mk2 is a divisive gun, with some players loving it and others hating it. The truth is that it is as good as you are, as its unbelievable TTK only matters if you are confident in your ability to hit shots with a semi-auto gun. For the average player, this might not be a great option, but its theoretical potential in the right hands beats out even the Krig C and the XM4.

Of course, that is all theoretical, and a lot of people will struggle to use it in practice. That’s especially true for controller players, with this particular gun being easier to use with a mouse. Regardless, the Goblin Mk2 deserves a spot in the top 5 simply because it can be incredibly powerful if you know what you are doing. Just be sure to equip Rapid Fire to make it as effective as possible.

All BO6 Assault Rifles ranked

There are currently 9 assault rifles in Black Ops 6, with the Cypher 091 being the latest addition. Here’s how all of these assault rifles rank from best to worst:

RANK	GUN	TTK (MS)
1	XM4	300
2	Krig C	297
3	Model L	300
4	Cypher 091	321
5	Goblin Mk2	260
6	AK-74	276
7	AMES 85	320
8	AS VAL	268
9	GPR 91	336

Meta analysis

Activision

Black Ops 6’s assault rifle meta has shifted slightly, with the Krig C now being the best in the category. However, it is followed very closely by the XM4, which remains the strongest all-around option for those looking for an accessible yet still powerful option.

Beyond that, both the Model L and Cypher 091 are good weapons that make up for their lower damage by being especially accurate. Alternatively, the Goblin Mk2 is much harder to use but has the best TTK of any assault rifle, making it deadly in the right hands.

All three of the AK-74, AMES 85, and AS VAL are viable options that don’t stand out against their peers but aren’t bad by any means. In fact, the only assault rifle that is never worth using is the GPR 91, as it just doesn’t deal enough damage to be competitive.

For more options to use on your next Black Ops 6 loadout, check out the best SMGs, as well as our weapon tier list to find out where all of the guns rank. You’ll also want to make sure that you are using the best audio settings, best PC settings, and best controller settings to streamline your experience.